The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed stormwater runoff from nonpoint sources as an emerging and major threat to water quality. In fact, nonpoint source pollution is now the leading cause of problems in water quality. Consequently, stormwater runoff has risen to the top of issues that need to be addressed in order to restore water quality in America.

It is important to restore water quality because we depend on water for a variety of our needs, such as irrigation, industrial processes, personal hydration, food and recreation.

Stormwater pollution also has profound negative impacts on our aquatic ecosystems. The slightest of changes in areas like water temperature and elevation can drastically alter aquatic habitats. These changes in the water can destroy the current biological system and usher in a new system that is able to tolerate the changes. Usually, the new biological system is not as complex, stable or desirable.